These breaks occur at the outer part of the elbow, an area that serves as an attachment point for most of the muscles that straighten out the wrist and fingers, and also for the ligaments that stabilize the elbow joint. ( Click or tap image to enlarge) Lateral condyle fractures Physical therapy can be prescribed if the patient has difficulty achieving elbow motion.įigure 2: Lateral (side) X-ray of a supracondylar humerus fracture after treatment with realignment and wiring. The child is then instructed on a gradual return to daily activities to help prevent stiffness from developing.
#RIGHT ELBOW REPAIR FX XRAY PHOTO SKIN#
The wires extend through the skin and are covered by the cast.Īfter a period of about four weeks, when the fracture has healed sufficiently, the cast is taken off and the wires are removed. To repair a supracondylar fracture, the orthopedic surgeon realigns the bone and usually inserts wires – about the diameter of a pencil lead – into the bone and across the fracture site, an approach that helps maintain proper alignment while protecting the growth plate in these young children. When treating a supracondylar fracture, the orthopedic surgeon strives to restore the anatomy as closely as possible to its pre-injury position or alignment. Nerve injuries, including bruising or stretching, can take longer to resolve. If a tear in a blood vessel is suspected, a vascular surgeon becomes part of the treatment team. In many cases, reducing the bone – putting it back into proper alignment and relieving the pressure on the blood vessels will address the problem, and the patient’s pulse will return to normal. “This is an injury that needs to be addressed immediately in order to prevent permanent injury.” “If a broken bone or bone fragment pierces or puts pressure on the artery as a result of the fracture, the patient may come into the emergency room with a cold hand in which a pulse cannot be detected,” Dr. This break occurs in the humerus bone just above the elbow joint.įigure 1: Lateral (side) X-ray of a supracondylar humerus fracture.īecause the brachial artery (the main artery in the upper arm) and the nerves that control movement of the hand sit along this bone, these fractures are also associated with an increased risk of vascular and nerve injury. Seen primarily in younger children – ages four to eight years – these are the most common type of elbow fracture seen by pediatric orthopedic surgeons. The term elbow fracture describes an injury that can occur in numerous locations in the joint. Types of elbow fractures and treatment options Once the elbow begins to heal on its own, if it is not in proper position, it is harder to achieve good long-term results. Although this is good news when proper treatment is initiated, it also underscores the danger of delaying assessment by a physician, and when needed, referral to a pediatric orthopedist. “It’s important for parents to be aware that elbow fractures heal fairly quickly in children,” says Dr. In some cases, MRI and/or CT scans (which show cartilage more clearly) and arthrograms – images obtained after dye has been injection into the elbow joint – are also used. Blanco and his colleagues at HSS sometimes X-ray the opposite arm in order to compare the anatomy. Before a growing child reaches skeletal maturity, the elbow joint is partly composed of cartilage, and an X-ray that clearly shows bone tissue more clearly than cartilage may not provide a clear image of the fractured area. Diagnosing elbow fracturesĭiagnosis of elbow fractures can also be more complicated than detection of other childhood fractures. Blanco, MD, Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at HSS. “When elbow fractures are not treated correctly and in a timely way, long-term problems – including deformity, arthritis, and stiffness – can develop,” explains John S. In children, the presence of multiple growth centers adds to the complexity of injuries and their treatment.
In patients of any age, the unique anatomy of the elbow joint, which includes an intricate network of nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments, can present specific treatment challenges.
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